Goderich Tornado

​​​​​On August 21, 2011, a violent storm and tornado devastated Goderich, Ontario, causing $130 million in overall damages and $75 million in insured damages. ​

IBC’s Disaster Relief Goes Mobile

To assist community members and help address questions, IBC representatives travelled to Goderich. IBC’s Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (CAMP) is one of a number of initiatives by Canada’s home, car and business insurers to help Canadians prepare for, and cope with, disasters. The national program provides disaster victims with on-site, quick-response information related to insurance.

Insurers Respond to the Devastation

In addition to IBC representatives, insurance company representatives were in Goderich to help affected residents and businesses. Many insurers brought in extra staff to issue cheques to residents to cover their daily needs, as well as to immediately begin processing claims.

Due to the extent of the claims and the limited availability of skilled tradespeople and labour for demolition and rebuilding in this small community, the recovery process took months to complete. Insurers worked to fulfill rebuilding requirements for damaged homes and buildings with heritage designations, to ensure that the rich history of the community was preserved.

Reconstruction wasn’t an overnight process. In the months that followed the tornado, IBC and insurance company representatives answered insurance questions, responded to issues and helped the Goderich community recover.

Homeowner’s and tenant’s policies in certain circumstances provide coverage for additional living expenses if a residence is uninhabitable because of an insured loss.

​After a disaster, contact y​our insurance representative as soon as possible to discuss your coverage and deductibles and to report damage claims. To facilitate claims processing, document all property losses. And, if safe to do so, protect your property from further damage.